In the lifetime of an artist, the keywords that stand the test of time are, development and resilience. So it is with Stafford James. From his beginnings performing in orchestras, chamber ensembles and Jazz groups, one can see the developmental process of one that can cross various genres of musical expression. From his early R & B recordings, performing and touring with the Broadway show “Hair”, his recordings with the legendary saxophonist, Albert Ayler, performing with Alice Coltrane, Rashied Ali, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Al Haig, Ram Ramirez, Barry Harris, Gary Bartz, Betty Carter, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Al Cohn, Jimmy Heath, Dexter Gordon, McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Woody Shaw, the Schubert Quintet, the National Ukrainian Orchestra, just to name a few. He has also composed music for string and percussion ensemble with dancers, Baroque instruments (14 string viola d’amore), 7 and 9 piece string ensemble and orchestral arrangements on the musics of Rossini, Boccherini, Solér and Brahms to where late critic of the New York Times, John S. Wilson coined him “The symbol of resilience”. In 2005, after many years composing projects for the WestDeutscherRundfunk of Köln, he donated more than 200 of his works to the Regenstein Research Library of the University of Chicago for graduate and under-graduate studies and re-formed the string ensemble with the mission of presenting the actual beauty of kontrabass as the lead melodic voice of the ensemble. Now, the scope has once again broadened to a 15 piece ensemble of strings, percussion and horns with the premier of the KUG Third Stream Ensemble of the University of Graz, “Crossing Borders”. The unique instrumentation is that of Kontrabass soloist, Harp, Strings, Flute, Trumpet, Saxes doubling on Bass Clarinet, Trombone, Tuba, Guitar, Support Bass for the rhythm, Drums and Percussion.
Porgy & Bess takes pleasure in presenting this unique ensemble that is truly at the frontier of “Crossing Borders”. (Stafford James)